Gradual withdrawal w/22mo

[Mama Jo]

Interested in input on how long to extend the "gradual withdrawal" method on a 22 month old.

Without going into details.... our little man did great with getting snuggled to sleep yet as he's grown up it doesn't work so well for obvious reasons. We were doing great with some "sleep training" before the holidays  (more of a Walk in/walk out style) and then the holidays + family in town + sickness, etc. our beloved new routine was met with lots of sobs and crying when we tried to go back.

Thus we started GW and it's been working great.
Started with me laying down by his crib.
Now moved to a rocking chair. Been in the chair for about a week.
He may roll around, or talk and babble but ends up falling asleep on his on in his crib.
(doing the same for nap time and night wakings)

However, if I try to leave before he's asleep I'm met with meltdown mode and lots of sobs. Thus he always falls asleep with me present.
Starting to wonder how long do I stay in the chair??

Do I shift from GW to WI/WO again and work through the cries?

Would love any input and suggestions!

[*Ali*]

We just moved closer to the door and then just outside the door with it open a crack and then at the other end of the hall. By then he had stopped looking for us and we could just come downstairs before he was asleep. You can either move the chair or just sit on the floor, which is what we did.

Sounds like you're making great progress

[louis-mummy]

Hi

Do you make eye contact or use your voice at all? If so you could try reducing that. I used to either pretend to be asleep or face away from him so he's not looking all the time to see if I'm watching, hope that makes sense - minimising interaction

Agree sounds as though it's going really well

[Mama Jo]

Louis-Mummy -- yes still using my voice and interacting when prompted. Good call!! I'll start limiting that and be less "involved". Love the pretending to sleep too idea. Some nights he is particularly chatty and keeps trying to tell me things.

And thanks Ali! Chair is pretty close to the door already (just where it's positioned) but perhaps I'll move outside in the hall at the next stage.

Thanks ladies!!

 

[*Ali*]

Oh yes definitely restrict the interaction. We would tell him it was sleepy time and we would not talk anymore once the light was out. If he tried to engage us in conversation we simply repeated "sleepy time" every few questions or remained silent.

Good luck.